Excitement builds for Ulverston's Lonsdale House as bookings 'fly in'

The 19-bedroom Georgian townhouse, that was once the Lonsdale House Hotel, will house 13 apartments which won't be open until around September time.

Work is progressing on the Grade II building at Daltongate which has prompted people to inquire already about holding their special days there.

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The townhouse has seen many weddings over the decades and work is now progressing well to restore Lonsdale House to its former glory. 

Neil Cameron, of Cameron Investment Group, who is originally from Crook, said: "We're really chuffed with how work is coming along.

"The roof has now been completely re-slated, despite all the recent terrible weather.

"Inside the work is moving on extremely well, the team have worked hard over the winter months, with the majority of pipework and electrical cabling now in place.

"The teams we've used are local, such as construction company Wolfe Design and Build, MJ Caterall’s Electrical and Steve Meyer Architects - they're all doing a fantastic job."

The building was built for the Fell family in 1787 before they moved to Flan How around 1870.

It was then a boarding school before becoming club rooms at the very end of the 19th century and it then became a hotel in 1950s.

A heritage assessment done by Greenlane Archeology staircases revealed that the main original features left after modernisation were its decorative plasterwork, door surrounds, roof trusses and sash windows.

Neil said: "It's been important for us to modernise with new kitchens and bathrooms however the building has such a history we made it a priority to restore some of its amazing original features.

"It's amazing what these old properties hide. We're delighted to have recently managed to uncover some fantastic cornices and ceiling details that were previously boarded up and barricaded. 

"A local carpentry company has designed and custom made our windows, which retain the beautiful original 'sash' designs whilst creating a warm, insulated building.

"We have a really beautiful staircase too for people to see as well our secret garden and so many other features which are perfect for a wedding venue.

"The original staircase is one of the grandest aspects of the property, as well our "secret garden" and so many other features which are perfect for a wedding venue.

"We're very pleased to report that people are already thinking of us for their special days and the bookings for accommodation are already flying through.

"When we first took over it was a bit like Fawlty Towers with the likes of the old 1970s carpet that here that needed taking out but we're so pleased with how it's all looking now.

"We can't wait to welcome people in so they can see how it looks.

"We'll have some photographs of these beautiful features soon as well having a open day in the coming months for the public to come in and see."